Virginian-Pilot, Daily Press take home 19 first-place awards in Virginia Press Association contest
The Virginian-Pilot, Daily Press, Virginia Gazette and Tidewater Review won 63 awards in this year’s Virginia Press Association news and advertising contest.
The four Virginia Media publications won 19 first-place awards.
Awards for this year’s contest were announced virtually over the course of four days.
“I’m so proud of the work our journalists have done to inform, enlighten and entertain readers during what was an especially challenging year,” said Kris Worrell, editor-in-chief of Virginia Media. “They are talented professionals and I’m thrilled their efforts have been recognized statewide.”
Photographer Jonathon Gruenke won a Best in Show award for daily photography, along with three first-place awards. Staff writer Katherine Hafner won two first-place awards — one for government writing and another for a feature story about Lt. Edith Reynolds White who broke Japanese codes in World War II. Photographer Kaitlin McKeown, along with staff writers Matthew Korfhage, Joanne Kimberlin and Marty O’Brien, also won first-place awards.
Tidewater Review staff writer Em Holter received first-place for her feature writing portfolio and data journalism story on access to child care across the Tidewater region.
The Richmond-based arts and culture publication, Style Weekly, won 12 first-place awards — 40 awards overall. Distinction also received 19 awards, including nine in first-place.
Awards won by The Virginian-Pilot, Daily Press, Virginia Gazette and Tidewater Review:
Daily Competition
First place
Sports Feature Photo: Overtime Wins by Kaitlin McKeown, The Virginian-Pilot
Feature Photo: Digital Crabber by Stephen Katz, The Virginian-Pilot
Critical Writing: Norfolk’s Glass Light restaurant offers extravagance, whimsy, and sometimes perfection by Matthew Korfhage, The Virginian-Pilot
Feature Profile Writing (including News Obituaries): Edith White, World War II ‘code girl’ and Norfolk Academy librarian who fought Massive Resistance, dies at 96 by Katherine Hafner, The Virginian-Pilot
Government Writing: ‘A floating prison’: Civilian mariners say they’re stuck on Navy ships while sailors come and go by Katherine Hafner, The Virginian-Pilot
Government Writing: Disabled state employees can’t sue Virginia for damages under ADA. Some attorneys call the exception ‘outrageous.’ by Katherine Hafner, The Virginian-Pilot
Government Writing: Family wants military to help a Marine cope with a sex assault. Instead, she’s in a Chesapeake brig. by Katherine Hafner, The Virginian-Pilot
Health/science/environmental Writing: Against all odds, the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel bird colony is saved by Joanne Kimberlin, The Virginian-Pilot
Health/science/environmental Writing: Angry? Resentful? Feeling guilty? Psych footprint of pandemic is huge by Joanne Kimberlin, The Virginian-Pilot
Health/science/environmental Writing: In their best show in 800 years, Jupiter and Saturn will align to create a wonder: A Christmas Star by Joanne Kimberlin, The Virginian-Pilot
Front Page: Daily Press Staff
Breaking News Photo: Arresting Protester by Jonathon Gruenke, Daily Press
General News Photo: A Final Goodbye by Jonathon Gruenke, Daily Press
Pictorial Photo: Chasing the Flowers by Jonathon Gruenke, Daily Press
Sports Column Writing: He was in a coma for 17 days and almost died twice. Robert Calloway has no memory of his long battle with coronavirus. by Marty O’Brien, Daily Press
Sports Column Writing: Parker Topping was told he has 22 months to live, but he’s fighting and coaching his son at Poquoson by Marty O’Brien, Daily Press
Sports Column Writing: Mo’ne Davis was thrust into the spotlight while dominating in Little League. Now she’s quietly excelling at Hampton by Marty O’Brien, Daily Press
Data Journalism: Tidewater’s child care crisis: Pandemic drives underlying need, parents see limited access, high costs by Em Holter, Tidewater Review
Feature Story Writing Portfolio: Em Holter, Tidewater Review
Second place
Data Journalism: Failure of oversight: How dozens of officers kept their police certification despite convictions by Gary Harki, Moss Brennen (graphic), The Virginian-Pilot
Sports News Photo: Out of My Hair by Todd Spencer, The Virginian-Pilot
Feature Series or Continuing Story: “White work.” Local Episcopal churches use film and dialogue to discuss racism by Denise Watson, The Virginian-Pilot
Feature Series or Continuing Story: Slavery and salvation: Modern churches reckon with history in the trade by Denise Watson, The Virginian-Pilot
Feature Story Writing Portfolio: 90-year-old cobbler plies an ancient and struggling trade by Joanne Kimberlin, The Virginian-Pilot
Feature Story Writing Portfolio: With nursing homes closed to visitors, last goodbyes can be lost to coronavirus by Joanne Kimberlin, The Virginian-Pilot
Feature Story Writing Portfolio: Virginian-Pilot says goodbye to downtown edifice by Joanne Kimberlin, The Virginian-Pilot
Feature Profile Writing (including News Obituaries): $4.5 million. 16 victims. How the Virginia Beach mass shooting donations were divided. by Joanne Kimberlin, The Virginian-Pilot
In-depth or Investigative Reporting: After Virginia prisons strip searched an 8-year-old, state lawmakers passed 4 bills to limit the practice by Gary Harki , The Virginian-Pilot
In-depth or Investigative Reporting: Entrenched racist culture at heart of Portsmouth’s police department, officers and former chief say by Gary Harki, The Virginian-Pilot
In-depth or Investigative Reporting: Ban on strip searches of children in Virginia prisons passes state Senate unanimously by Gary Harki, The Virginian-Pilot
In-depth or Investigative Reporting: Virginian-Pilot sues state Department of Corrections for records by Gary Harki, The Virginian-Pilot
Feature Story Writing (excluding Obituaries): Hampton native, playwright and descendant of the “Aberdeen 158” harvests their stories for new documentary by Lisa Vernon-Sparks, Daily Press
General News Writing: ‘A part of me died when he died’: Families recall loved ones killed on USS Cole by Dave Ress, Daily Press
General News Writing: “Never underestimate our resolve.” 20 years later, the USS Cole’s legacy continues to inspire by Dave Ress, Daily Press
General News Writing: 20 years after the attack on the USS Cole, memories of heroism and loss by Dave Ress, Daily Press
Health/science/environmental Writing: Keeping in touch: Hampton-Newport News Community Service Board adjusts to social distancing by Dave Ress, Daily Press
Health/science/environmental Writing: It started with a dinner party: How a William & Mary doctor became one of the first to get the coronavirus in Williamsburg by Dave Ress, Daily Press
Health/science/environmental Writing: Hampton Roads nursing homes begin easing restrictions on residents’ socializing by Dave Ress, Daily Press
Third place
General News Photo: Watching Mom Saluting by Jonathon Gruenke, Daily Press
Personality or Portrait Photo: First COVID Family by Jonathon Gruenke, Daily Press
Business and Financial Writing: Producing hand sanitizer makes sense for a distillery, but finding raw materials a daily grind by Lisa Vernon-Sparks, Daily Press
Business and Financial Writing: Patrick’s hardware a fixture in a Hampton neighborhood known for change by Lisa Vernon-Sparks, Daily Press
Business and Financial Writing: Lots of prayer, baked cookies and conversation: Hampton entrepreneur juggles business and family during a pandemic by Lisa Vernon-Sparks, Daily Press
Page Design: Matt Cahill, The Virginian-Pilot
Sports Feature Photo: Moment of Silence by Kaitlin McKeown, The Virginian-Pilot
Sports News Photo: On The Floor by Kaitlin McKeown, The Virginian-Pilot
Breaking News Writing: Lucy, the parkway pup, is finally captured in Virginia Beach by Stacy Parker, The Virginian-Pilot
Critical Writing: Korean-style fried chicken is crackling in Hampton Roads. Here’s the best — and the rest by Matthew Korfhage, The Virginian-Pilot
Editorial Writing: Don’t abandon public housing residents by Brian Colligan, The Virginian-Pilot
Education Writing: Norfolk schools canceled key meetings with families of special-needs students during the pandemic. Other cities carried on. by Sara Gregory, The Virginian-Pilot
Feature Story Writing (excluding Obituaries): 90-year-old cobbler plies an ancient and struggling trade by Joanne Kimberlin, The Virginian-Pilot
Sports Column Writing: Rubama: He’s the only Black person on the field at times, but this Maury star sees change coming by Larry Rubama, The Virginian-Pilot
Sports Column Writing: Rubama: More than 2,700 Virginians have died from the coronavirus. My brother was one of them. by Larry Rubama, The Virginian-Pilot
Non-daily competition
Third place
Education Writing Non-Daily Group 2: Em Holter, Tidewater Review
Advertising awards
First place
Entertainment: Vanessa Fleming, Daily Press
Home and Garden: Lora Gibson, Daily Press
Professional Services (medical and healthcare-related only): Cathy Wall and John Donnellan, The Virginian-Pilot
Slick Publications (daily): Courtenay Roy, The Virginian-Pilot
Slick Publications (non-daily): Clay Barbour, Pete Dewey, EJ Toudt, Bob Dudeck and Lora Gibson; Virginia Gazette
Second place
Home and Garden: Courtenay Roy, The Virginia-Pilot
Slick Publications (daily): Cathy Wall and John Donnellan, The Virginian-Pilot
Third place
Home and Garden: Lora Gibson, Daily Press
Professional Services (excluding medical/healthcare): Vanessa Fleming, Daily Press
Professional Services (medical and healthcare-related only): Emma Jones, Daily Press
Professional Services (excluding medical/healthcare): Bob Dudeck, Virginia Gazette
An earlier version of this misstated the number of first-place awards won by the four Virginia Media publications and the number of awards won by Style Weekly.
